Battery terminal connector



1366- 1952 J. J. KNASKO ET AL BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 5, 1947 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR JosephJ .1 Knasko and Michael Gribik, Ford. City, Pa.

Application November 5, 1947, Serial No. 784,248

3 Claims.

This invention relates:to battery: terminal connectors, .and more especially to such connectors for use on automobile'storage batteries.

As is well known, storage batteriesare provided with upstanding tapered terminal posts formed-of lead, and the battery cable .is connected to the positive post by means of a split'sleeve provided with a nut for clampingit tightly about the post. This conventional type of terminal-connector has been in use for many years :and ;is..quite unsatisfactory because of the corrosion which occurs between. the split sleeve and the post andwhich also occursv around the clamping "bolt, thus, making it extremely diflicult to. loosen the. bolt and to remove the splitsleeve from the battery post, when necessary;

An important object of the present. invention is toprovide a novel typeofbatteryiterminal con.- nector by means of whicha highly-effectivezelecr tricalconnection is made and by means of which terminal corrosion is eliminated.

A further object is to provide a terminal post connector formed of a plurality of parts whereby improved electrical connection is made between the battery cable and terminal post, and wherein novellubricating means is'employed for lubricating: any contacting portions ofthe various elements and for sealing such-portions. from. contact with the, atmosphere, thus eliminating cor.- rosionandpermitting the terminal connection to be 'readilyremoved.

A. further. object is-to provide a devicexof the character referred to, wherein threadedcmeans is employedior securing a highly effective electrical connection with the batterypost'and wherein a single grease fittingisadapted to provide for the-lubricationof the various -parts, including the threaded means, thus preventing corrosion andtpermitting'the-easy removal of the terminal connection.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of. the fOHOWiIigdGSCIiPtiOIl;

In thedrawing we haveshcwn several embodiments of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional. view through one form of the-invention shownin position on a battery terminal post, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure -2 is a detail sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1,v

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3. of Figure 1, the battery postbeing omitted,

.E'igure .4 is a View similar'toFigure 1, showing a. modified form of .the invention,

Figure 5- is a sectional view-on line= 5 -.5- of Fig:- ure 4,

Figure 6 is a viewsimilarto Figure 1 showing another modification of'the invention, and,

Figure 7 is asectional view online -'IT of Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 -and-3, the numeral Hi generally indicates the conventional automobile storage battery having a positive terminal post H to which a conventionalcable-H 'is-to -be electrically connected; The post H, inaccordance with conventional practice, is-preferablyformed of lead, and accordingly is relatively soft.

The present invention comprises a sleeve l5 having a radial projection reforming a-so'cketi'n' which the-wire ll of the-cable IZ -termi'nates'a-nd' within which such wire is soldered-to form aper' manent connection. The sleeve l5 'i's'internally threaded as indicated as a wholeloy the numeral l3. These threads are cut from the top of the sleeve I5 by a suitably shaped die whereby "the inner limitsof the threads throughout the-greater portion of the height of the-sleeve 5"lie-'in acylinder coaxial with the sleeve 15. The lowermost thread I8, and preferably the two lowermost threads, progressively decrease in diameter, it-being apparent in Figures ,1 and 3 that these-lowermost threads project radially inwardly further than the innermost portions ofthe threads thereabove. The inward tapering' of such lowermost threads'is'substantially as indicatedbythebrokeni lines [9. The die used for" cutting the threads i8 will be suitably shapedto. form thethreads f8 as described. The sleeve l5rests upon'a sealing Washer 19' formed of any soft resilientmateria'l'.

An intermediate sleeve member indicated'las' a whole by the numeralZZis provided'witha solid, upperportion'23 arrangedf above theLbatter-y post II. The head 23 carries integral depending fingers 'Z l'defining asleeve arrangedbetween'the sleeve land the battery post H, the fingers being separated by slits .25 extending up to the head 23,

The sleevemember 22 is formed'of anysuitable material, preferably harder than the lead of whichv the post I l is formed, for a purpose .tobe described. For example, thesleeve.membenZ-l-may be formed of copper or suitable-copper alloy. The sleeve member 22 is externallythreaded-throughout its length asat 26, these threads havingitthe same pitch anddepth. as and being" engageable with thethreads l8. However;.the threads 26'3are' of uniform vdiameterthroughout thelength of the sleevezmember 2 2 and-when the sleeve :memb'er2-2 is screwed downwardly beyond-the position shown in Figure 3, to its fully applied position, the lower tapered threads 58 will force the lower ends of the fingers 24 inwardly for a purpose to be described.

The sleeve formed by the fingers 2G is internally threaded as at 28. These threads need not be of any particular formation but they should be of the same pitch as or of slightly greater pitch than the threads 26 for a reason which will become apparent. The internal threads 28, when the sleeve member 22 is screwed downwardly in the sleeve I5, cut threads 29 on the outer surface of the battery terminal II, as shown in Figure 1.

The head 23 of the sleeve member 22 is provided with an upstanding polygonal boss 39 for engagement with a wrench whereby the sleeve member 22 may be turned downwardly into position. A conventional grease fitting 3| is carried by the boss 39 and is adapted for connection with a suitable grease gun to force grease downwardly through an opening 32 in the head 23, and into the space 33 between the upper end of the post II and the bottom face of the head 23. If desired, the fitting may be an integral part of the head 23; that is, the latter itself may be shaped as a grease fitting.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, a split sleeve 35, formed of complementary sections 36 and 31, is provided with a tapered inner surface 33 adapted to fit the battery post II. The sleeve 35 may be split as at 39 from top to bottom, or through any desired vertical distance from the top. The sleeve section 31 is provided with a conventional radial projection 40, similar to the projection I 5, and to which the battery cable I2 has its wire I! connected in the usual manner.

Above the projection 40, the sleeve 35 is externally threaded as at 42 for reception in the internally threaded depending sleeve 43 of a cap 44. This cap holds the elements 36 and 3? in assembled positions, gripped in electrical engagement with the post I I. The upper portion of the cap 44 may have its outer surface d polygonally shaped for engagement with a suitable wrench.

A conventional grease fitting i6 is adapted to supply grease through an opening 41 to a space 48 above the post I I, the threads of the sleeves and 43 and the upper end of the post I I thus having access to the source of grease supplied through the fitting 46.

A further modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 6 and '7. In such form of the invention a unitary cap 59 is provided with a depending sleeve 5| at one side of which is a projection 52 having connection with the battery cable I2. The sleeve BI is adapted to be arranged over the battery post II. The recess 53 within the cap has one side 54 shaped to fit around the adjacent side of the post II. The opposite side of the recess 53 is laterally enlarged as at 55 and the side walls of the recess are connected by a substantially semi-circular portion 56 eccentric to the post I! and spaced a substantial distance therefrom.

A clamping member 60 is arranged in the enlarged recess portions 55 and 58 and has its inner surface BI shaped to fit the post II. The surfaces 54 and GI, or either of such surfaces, may be serrated or roughened as shown in Figure 6 for effective engagement with the post i!, and to provide grooves for the passage of lubricant for a purpose to be described. The screw 62 is threaded in an opening 63 and carries a wrench engaging head 64 at its outer end. The inner portion of the screw 63 has a reduced shank 65 extending through and rotatable in the clamping member 68. The end of the shank 65 is headed as at 56 to prevent its displacement from the clamping member 60. One side of the opening 63, and preferably the top side, is milled out or otherwise provided with a groove 61 for a purpose to be described.

A grease fitting 'IB is carried by the cap 59 and supplies grease through an opening 'II connected to the space 12 above the post I I. This grease is free to circulate around the clamping member 60, and when the interior of the device is filled, some of the grease will be forced through the small groove 6! to lubricate the screw 52 and to assist in sealing the opening 63 against the en trance of air.

Operation The form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is preferred to the other forms and has been found in practice to provide exceptional and extremely eflicient results. In assembling the device for the first time, the washer I9 which is preferably employed to seal the lower end of the device completely against the entrance of air, is placed in position around the base of the post I I. The sleeve I5 is then placed around the post whereupon the sleeve member 22 has the sleeve portion inserted in the upper end of the sleeve I5 and may be initially turned by hand to move it downwardly to the point where the lower extremities of the fingers 24 extend below the upper end of the post I I with the threads 28 contacting with the post II. Some slight pressure is preferably exerted downwardly on the sleeve I5 to slightly compress the washer I 9 while the sleeve member 22 is being rotated by a wrench applied to the polygonal projection 30.

As previously stated, the material of the sleeve member 23 is substantially harder than the soft lead of the post II. As the wrench applied to the projection 39 is turned, the threads 28 will cut or shape threads in the battery post II. Threads !8 and 26 will be in engagement with each other, and the threads 28 are pitched preferably the same as the threads I 8 and 26 for a purpose to be referred to later. Lubricant may be supplied through the fitting 3| during the operation of cutting the threads on the post II, thus facilitating the cutting of such threads with the expenditure of less force in turning the sleeve member 22. Rotation of the latter member is continued until the lower ends of the fingers 24 reach a position in engagement with the uppermost of the tapered threads I8, that is, approximately to the position shown in Figure 3. The sleeve member 22 is then removed and lead cuttings are cleaned out of the cable connection. With grease supplied to the space 33, a wrench is applied to the projection 32 to screw the sleeve member downwardly to operative position. The threads 28 will follow the threads 29 cut in the post II, as will be apparent. As the fingers 24 move downwardly beyond the point shown in Figure 3, the tapered threads I3 at the bottom of the sleeve I5 will progressively force the lower ends of the fingers 2 3 inwardly to cause the lowermost threads 28 to bite rather deeply into the post I l to insure an even tighter electrical connection between the sleeve 22 and post II.

The threads It and 28 in Figure 3 are intended to be shown only approximately of the same pitch. If these threads are pitched exactly alike, the operation will be as described above. If the 51 pitch of the'ithreads 28 1 slightly greater than the pit'ch of "thethreadszzffland $2 6, the downward turning 'of'thecaprzz will cause the sleeve venting corrosionwhich'so commonly occurs and causes so 'much trouble in connection with the removal of battery-terminal connections. More-' over, the presence of the grease providesfor the easyunscrewing of the sleeve member 2 2, when necessary; It will be apparent that 'the gre'ase will b'esupplied to the threads I 8 and-26 and to the threads-28 and 2 9, and some of "the grease readily maybe forced downwardly into contact withthe washer I9' to seal the lower end of the device to the atmosphere.

The cutting ofthe threads 29 is important for two reasons. In the first place, it provides far more efficient electrical connection between the sleeve 22 and post I I. In the second place it will be apparent that if the inner surfaces of the fingers Zlwere smooth and'corresponded in sha'pe to the outer surface of the post II, the screwing down of the sleeve member 22" in the sleeve I would continue until substantial friction developed between the fingers 24 and post I I to' 'oppose further downward-movement o'fthe sleeve member 22. Unless extreme'pressurewere applied at the top I of-- the device, therefore, th e"turnin g of-the threads 26 -in the threads I8 would result in moving the sleevejmern ber l5 upwardly instead'of moving the fingers 2 4 'downwardly. This would prevent the estab lishment of aperfect electrical connection for-the battery postandwouldprovide two oth'er serious disadvantages. First, the contacting conical surfaces of the post -'II and fingers 24, under the shaking and vibratory actions due to the moving of the vehicle would cause the fingers to slipupwardly. Secondly, the'upwardmovement of the sleeve I5 would permit the entrance of air into the bottom of the device.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 4 has been found very satisfactory but not as highly efficient in continued operation. As in the form described above, the cap 44 exerts a direct radially inward force to pres the complementary members 38 and 31 into firm engagement with the battery post. Prior to the tightening of the parts, some grease will be forced through the fitting 46. Some of this grease will flow downwardly around the post II, and some will find its way into the threads 42, thus sealing the contacting parts of the device from the atmosphere.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 6 and '7, grease is forced through the fitting 10 with the clamping members 60 slightly spaced from the post II. Thus the post will be coated with grease and the lubricant will escape around the clamping member 66 and into the recess portion 55. The grooves formed by the serrations GI permit the free flow of lubricant around the post II. A small amount of the grease will be forced through the opening 61 and the appearance of grease at the outer end of this opening will indicate that sufficient lubricant has been forced into the device.

The nut 64- is then turned lwith' afwrench to move the-clampmember into "engagement with the post, the latter being clamped between the inner surfaces =Ofthe-member'60 and the recess surface 54. Thusefficient electrical connection.

will be established and all of the parts will be ealed with lubricant.

The turning of the screw BZ-after lubricant has been applied in the'manner stated causes the threads of the screw to carry lubricant around the opening as to make the latter leak-proof as to the-entrance of the-atmosphere. The-smaller amount of lubricant forced through the opening 61 incident to "the shaking and vibrating of the material and the softening of the lubricant by the absorption of heat from the vehicle-engine; will cause the lubricant to graduallyfiow around the screw 62 to more effectively seal the outer end of the opening 63.

In each form of the invention a very efficient clamping action against the battery post isprovided by the employment of a plurality of parts; and all of theconta'cting surfaces ofall 'of such parts are adequately lubricated through the provision of a single grease fitting. Each form of the invention includes screw threaded-means-for effecting the clamping'action, andth'e threads of such means'are lubricated and protected'bythe grease forced into the device. In practice; it has fittings -be' employed for convenience; 'each'of "the cap membersemployed-can be-filled'with grease prior to'being placed in position. While satisface toryresults thus can-be obtained," it is impossible to predetermine the exact amount of grease which-willberequired, and for this reasonand' because-of the cleanliness involved, it is preferred to employ the grease" fittings for introducing the lubricant.

The use of the washer I9 is'preferred", 'but'it may be omitted as in Figures 4' and d'and'the grease forced downwardly around the terminal posts may be depended upon to seal the lower end of the device to the atmosphere. The washer I9. however, forms a more efficient sealing means.

As previously stated, the form of the invention shown in Figure l is preferred. One important reason for this is that the screwing of the cap 22 on the post I I efiectively cleans oxidation from such post and leaves clean lead surfaces for perfect electrical connection with the threads 28.

It will be noted that each form of the invention involves the use of a plurality of parts relatively movable into clamping engagement with the battery post by operation of threaded means. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the relatively movable elements engageable with the post I I are the fingers 24. In Figures 4 and 5, such elements are the relatively movable sections 36 and 31, while in Figures 6 and '7, such elements are the cap 5| and clamping member 60. The threaded means for effecting the clamping action are the threads I8 and 26 in Figure 3, the threads 42 and the internal threads of the sleeve 43 in Figure 4, and the threaded shank 62 and the threads in the opening 63 in Figures 6 and 7. It also will be noted that each form of the invention involves a plurality of parts which completely house the battery post to completely seal the latter, assisted We claim: 1. A terminal connector for a battery post coinprising an internally threaded sleeve of larger internal diameter than and adapted to surround a battery post, and a cap member threaded in the upper end of said sleeve and having integral depending fingers threaded in the interior of said sleeve, the space between said sleeve and the outer surface of said post decreasing in size downwardly whereby the downward turning of said cap member will cause said fingers to be forced radially inwardly into clamping engagement with the battery post, said fingers having threads formed in their inner surfaces pitched similar to the threads in said sleeve to cut threads in the battery post upon downward turning movement of said cap member, the internal diameter of said sleeve member adjacent the lower limit of movement of the lower ends of said fingers decreasing in diameter whereby, as the lower ends of said fingers approach their lowermost limit, they will be forced inwardly into engagement with the battery post.

2. A terminal connector for a battery post com prising an internally threaded sleeve of larger internal diameter than and adapted to surround a battery post, a cap member threaded in the upper end of said sleeve and having integral depending fingers threaded in the interior of said sleeve, the space between said sleeve and the outer surface of said post decreasing in size downwardly whereby the downward turning of said cap member will cause said fingers to be forced radially inwardly into clamping engagement with the battery post, said fingers having threads formed in their inner surfaces to cut threads in the battery post upon downward turning movement of said cap member, and a deformable sealing Washer arranged between the lower end of the sleeve and the top of the battery, the threads on the inner surfaces of said fingers being of slightly greater pitch than the threads on said cap memher and said sleeve whereby the latter will move downwardly and deform said washer when said cap member is turned downwardly.

3. A battery terminal connector for a battery post comprising a vertical open-ended sleeve larger in internal diameter than the battery post to surround the battery post, and a cap member having 2. depending sleeve portion formed integral therewith, such sleeve portion of said cap being externally threaded for reception through the top of said open-ended sleeve and being internally threaded, the sleeve portion of said cap having substantially radial slots cut therethrough and dividing the internal threads thereof into relatively sharp-ended sections to cut the material of the battery post when said cap is screwed into the top of said open-ended sleeve when the latter surrounds the battery post, said open-ended sleeve being of such height that when said cap is screwed down onto the battery post, said openended sleeve covers said slots whereby said openended sleeve and said cap form a grease-retaining housing for the battery post.

JOSEPH J. KNASKO. MICHAEL GRIBIK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,598,834 Walker Sept. 7, 1926 1,678,733 Kromann July 31, 1928 1,963,530 Riccardi et al June 19, 1934 1,997,981 Spears Apr. 16, 1935 2,076,257 Vana Apr. 6, 1937 2,110,055 Richter Mar. 1, 1938 2,130,825 Bergan Sept. 20, 1938 2,231,310 Williams Feb. 11, 1941 2,274,437 St. George Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,204 England Sept. 4, 1922 

